Gurgling, Spitback, Leaking & Burnt Hits
Gurgling, leaking, burnt hits, spitback, flooding and wicking issues: these are problems many vapers will run into sooner or later. In this post, we’ll show you how to recognise them and what you can do to fix them. If you have any tips or further questions, leave us a comment so we can keep expanding this guide.
Gurgling
The issue:
When a tank starts to gurgle, it usually means too much e-liquid has entered the atomizer chamber. When you take a puff, the air has to make its way through that liquid, which creates the gurgling noise.
Troubleshooting:
- First, install a new coil. Do this even if the issue has been there from the start. Because coils are packed with organic cotton, the cotton density can vary naturally, so one coil may cause problems straight out of the box. If that doesn’t help, the next thing to look at is your draw technique.
- If any residual vapor remains in the chimney, it will condense and run back down to the coil. That’s why it’s worth paying attention to your draw technique at first. After a few hours, this usually becomes second nature. Tanks designed for bigger vapor production also need a stronger draw so the vapor can clear properly. For this, it’s best to open the airflow control wide so enough air can get in.
- Also, press the fire button only as you start drawing, and release it 1 – 2 seconds before you finish the puff. This prevents extra vapor from building up and being left in the chimney at the end.
- E-liquid plays an important role when it comes to gurgling. E-liquid (the liquid being vaporized) consists of PG (propylene glycol), VG (vegetable glycerin) and flavorings. Cheaper e-liquids often also contain water to make processing easier. Broadly speaking, PG carries the flavor and VG creates the vapor. Since it’s easier to make a tasty e-liquid with a higher PG content, most cheaper e-liquids are mixed with a high PG content and water. For tanks that tend to gurgle, it’s best to use an e-liquid with a higher VG content, as VG is thicker and therefore doesn’t flow into the chamber as easily. The PG/VG ratio is shown for all of our premium e-liquids.
- Check the seals/O-rings. In practice, we’ve found that this issue is very rarely caused by the seals, but they’re still worth checking if all other fixes have failed.
- Each coil is designed to be used at a specific wattage. Sub-ohm coils often need higher power (watts). If this is the cause, make sure you don’t go below the manufacturer’s stated minimum wattage.
Spitback / Spitting
The issue:
Spitback is essentially a more severe form of gurgling. If vapor can’t escape because there’s too much e-liquid in the chamber, all the liquid collected there heats up significantly. Eventually, the vapor needs more room and forces excess liquid out by spitting it away.
Troubleshooting:
- First, make sure the e-liquid doesn’t contain water. Water has a lower boiling point than the other ingredients in e-liquid, which can greatly increase spitback. Cheaper e-liquids are often mixed with water to make them easier to process. We list the PG/VG/water ratio for all of our premium e-liquids. If water isn’t shown in that ratio, it isn’t included.
- Since spitback is a more severe form of gurgling, follow the gurgling troubleshooting steps as well.
Leaking / Flooding
The issue:
Leaking, where liquid escapes from the tank, is an even more severe form of gurgling and spitback, so it often comes with the same symptoms. First, it’s worth mentioning that every e-cigarette can leak a few drops now and then. While that’s not exactly pleasant, it isn’t a health hazard. However, if the tank gradually empties over time, take a look at the troubleshooting steps below.
Troubleshooting:
- Install a new coil. Often, the coil is simply worn out from use, or the cotton has been causing issues from the start because of its natural organic structure.
- Make sure the coil is screwed in straight and not cross-threaded.
- Manufacturers of cheaper e-liquids often add water and a high amount of PG (propylene glycol) to make processing easier. This makes these e-liquids thinner, so they can flow more easily into the atomizer chamber and out of the e-cigarette. We therefore recommend using e-liquids with at least 50% VG and no water. The PG/VG ratio is shown for all of our premium e-liquids.
- Even though, in our experience, this is rarely the cause, you should still check the seals/O-rings.
- Menthol and acidic e-liquids must not be used in plastic tanks, as these substances can attack the tank material and allow liquid to escape through the resulting micro-cracks. For this reason, almost no e-cigarettes with plastic tanks are sold anymore these days.
Burnt Hits
The issue:
A burnt hit is seriously unpleasant, but just about every vaper has experienced one at some point. A coil is made up of wire and cotton. The cotton draws e-liquid from the tank, which is then vaporized by the heated wire when you fire the device. If the cotton is no longer saturated with e-liquid and the wire heats up, the cotton can start to scorch.
Troubleshooting:
- Once a coil has produced a burnt hit, the damage is irreversible because the cotton has been scorched and the smell won’t go away. You therefore need to use a new coil.
- The most common cause is refilling the tank too late. Our advice here is simply to check the e-liquid level regularly. If you’ve been vaping for a while, you’ll often be able to tell from the smell when the cotton is starting to dry out, so you’ll know in time when the tank needs refilling even without looking at it.
- Every coil needs to be used at the right wattage. The required wattage (e.g. 20 – 50 W) is usually engraved in small print directly on the coil. In our online shop, we also list the required wattages directly with the replacement coils. However, these values should be treated as guidelines, as the actual maximum wattage may vary slightly depending on the e-liquid and production. The important thing is not to set the wattage too high; otherwise, more e-liquid will be vaporized than the cotton can wick quickly enough.
- The coil is a consumable part that needs to be replaced from time to time. The cotton can wear down a little over time, which can affect e-liquid flow. E-liquids containing sweetener in particular—which is found in most sweet e-liquids—leave deposits that significantly reduce the lifespan of coils.
